From the Barral's Institute website:
Barral's clinical work with the viscera led to his development of a form of manual therapy that focuses on the internal organs, their environment, and the potential influence on many structural and physiological dysfunctions. The term he coined for this therapy was Visceral Manipulation (VM). The purpose of VM is to re-create, harmonize, and increase proprioceptive communication in the body to enhance its internal mechanism for better health, thereby revitalizing a person, and relieving symptoms of pain, dysfunction, and poor posture. Visceral Manipulation treats a person's functional and structural imbalances with an aim to affect their musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive, and lymphatic dysfunction.
Jean-Pierre Barral's famous dictum, “Only the tissues know,” expresses that the tissues in the body have a deep and innate intelligence. Everything that has happened in our lives—injuries, diseases, stressors, etc.—is recorded in our tissues. At the core of Visceral Manipulation (VM) is 'listening' to the tissues with our hands. Through manual listening techniques, trained hands of a skilled practitioner feel where the tissues are pulling toward the areas of restriction, the areas where the body is not moving, and the areas of the greatest impact on the person's well-being from the manual therapy perspective.
Comparative studies found Visceral Manipulation beneficial for people with various conditions such as:
Acute Disorders
Neck Pain and Whiplash
Seatbelt Injuries
Chest or Abdominal Sports Injuries
Concussion
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Women's and Men's Health Issues
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Endometriosis
Fibroids and Cysts
Dysmenorrhea
Bladder Incontinence
Prostate Dysfunction
Referred Testicular Pain
Effects of Menopause
Emotional Difficulties and Depression
Anxiety, Stress, Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Orthopedic Problems
Somatic-Visceral Interactions
Scoliosis
Chronic Pain
Motor-Coordination Impairments
Headaches and Migraines
Fibromyalgia and other Connective Tissue Disorders
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Peripheral Joint Pain
Sciatica
Sports Injuries
Pediatric Issues
Constipation and Gastritis
Persistent Vomiting
Vesicoureteral Reflux
Infant Colic
Learning Differences, ADD, ADHD
Digestive Disorders
Bloating and Constipation
Nausea and Acid Reflux
GERD
Swallowing Dysfunctions
Pain Related to:
Post-Surgical Dysfunction
Post-infection Scar Tissue
Autonomic Mechanisms
Other
Sleep Challenges
Chronic Fatigue
Immune Disorders